Case Number 04218

SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HERLOCK: THE ENDLESS ODYSSEY (VOLUME 1)

The Charge

"If you want to become a real man, come aboard my ship..."

Opening Statement

Why don't I like Space Pirate Captain Herlock: The Endless Odyssey?
We're talking about one of the more enduring creations of the massively
influential Leiji Matsumoto, a script by Sadayuki Murai, one of the writers for
the deliciously creep-tastic Perfect Blue, and direction by Rin Taro,
also known for directing Metropolis. What's not to like? Plenty, as it
turns out, starting with the idea that there's no excuse for doing the
same-old-same-old when you have a chance to reinvent.

Facts of the Case

Captain Herlock, a pirate space captain who has become something of a legend
due to being out of the limelight for a while, returns to face a new threat to
humanity. Humans have extended their reach into space too far, and an old evil
has risen up to crush them. As he once defied naysayers and pioneered travel
into space by reaching out to the stars, Captain Herlock now forces the hand of
the human race again as he steps up to fight this new nemesis. He takes the boy
of a deceased friend under his wing, reunites with his old crew, and boldly
pursues his foes.

The Evidence

Space Pirate Captain Herlock was created several years ago by Leiji
Matsumoto, who is also known for Galaxy Express 999 and Star
Blazers (AKA Space Battleship Yamato). Although I've never seen any
Space Pirate Herlock titles specifically, I have seen much of his other work,
and I love Space Battleship Yamato. No one but Matsumoto can convince me
a battleship from WWII is capable of spaceflight. He has rightfully been a heavy
influence on modern anime style. This latest Herlock series, which wrapped in
2003, attempts to recapture the Matsumoto magic with a new storyline that brings
Herlock back to the forefront of the action.

Although this seems like an exciting idea, I found that the first four
episodes flew wildly past their mark, with overly dramatic scenes and an
over-stylized look. Herlock is supposed to be a man among men, but here he comes
off as swaggering and arrogant rather than considered and forceful. He seems
more like a man with something to prove than one with strong beliefs, although
he talks often about his desire to live free. In this respect, there is
probably some reliance on an existing fan base to carry over their appreciation
for Herlock to this series. For newbies like myself, I just wasn't feeling
it.

While there are a few good moments in this new Herlock adventure that can be
savored, the rest felt uninspired and derivative. The creative team got the
bluster right, but not the charm. Characters are introduced slowly, and then
quickly whisked into new situations, before we have time to connect with them.
Herlock himself never lets his guard down, even as a secret look just for the
audience. This was something I always found very appealing about the captain in
Space Battleship Yamato -- even when he was unflappable and taking care
of business, we got to see that it worried him, too. The viewer knew his
feelings and his inner thoughts, and there was a connection. I don't feel that
connection here.

The print for this DVD is unpleasantly soft, with colors that bleed into
each other slightly, giving everything a mushy look. Since much of the Herlock
video out there is older and would be grainy when viewed today, perhaps this was
a deliberate attempt to evoke classic Herlock, but it was misguided. Other than
that, the print is relatively free of defects, and with four episodes per disc,
shows only minimal compression artifacting. The soundtrack fares much better,
with the Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital surround having a bit more echo and reverb
than the English 5.1 track. The English voice acting, as usual for a Geneon
release, is superb, and even improves on the Japanese version in some sections,
such as when supernatural creatures speak. There are two subtitle tracks, one
for signs only, and one for signs and subtitled dialogue. Extras amount to clean
opening credits and some sort of interlocking pencil case, part one of which
comes as an insert in the DVD case.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Despite my displeasure with these characters, I liked the basic story.
Nothing terribly new or inventive, but I'm a sucker for space dramas. I also
like the supernatural elements that cropped up in these first episodes, and what
it promises for the rest of the series. The creative team were careful to make
this a truly stand-alone production, so even those not familiar with the Herlock
universe can pick it up and enjoy the story. Exposition about the universe is
woven into the story well enough that it keeps up a fairly brisk pace and never
bogs down in details.

If you've seen Blade Runner, you'll appreciate the sort of film noir
look they went for in this anime. It isn't raining, but it really should be --
most scenes take place at night or in the black of space, and make full use of
reflected and absorbed light to create moods. Classic good vs. evil themes are
used here, especially the time-honored technique of putting the good guy in the
spotlight, while evildoers stay in the shadows. Even when the actual good guys
have bad guy roles, you know who they are because of the way they are
presented.

Closing Statement

Bottom line is this: fans of Space Pirate Captain Herlock are going to
dig this short (13 part OVA) series, which reprises many iconic images and
elements from the original, right down to the character designs. If you are
considering this title for the first time, however, I would suggest trying to
get your hands on some classic Herlock first, or perhaps one of Matsumoto's
other classics. Cowboy Bebop this ain't.

The Verdict

Space Pirate Captain Herlock: Endless Odyssey is hereby scuttled to
the Planet of the Rubbish Heaps.